Now Indy Cars are doing it!!!!

Lou Modestino

Monday

Mar 12, 2018 at 10:07 AM

Motor Racing By Ed Dornig We motor racing fans know, we've got a lot of problems with motor racing. Some old, some new. But lately, we've been having some new problems. The two new problems, 1. ‘stealing races from the fans'. NASCAR has been doing this for a couple of years now with the so […]

The Verizon Indy Cars kicked-off the 2018 racing season this past Sunday, March 11 on the St. Petersburg street course which aired on ABC. (Credit: Indy Car photo.)

Motor Racing

By Ed Dornig

We motor racing fans know, we've got a lot of problems with motor racing. Some old, some new. But lately, we've been having some new problems. The two new problems, 1. ‘stealing races from the fans'. NASCAR has been doing this for a couple of years now with the so called, ‘Stage'. The second problem has been around for a while, ‘long and/or sometimes, needless caution's'. The recent incident was this past Sunday's Indy Car race at St Petersburg, Fl.

NASCAR has systemically, been ‘taking' the race away from the fans. The most recent events are the so called, ‘Stage' racing. The effort on NASCAR's part was to get drivers to race instead of just riding around the track until the drivers spotter yelled out, '20 laps to go'! That's when drivers woke up from their sleep and started to race for the finish. So, NASCAR's solution was to create ‘Stages'. A ‘Stage' is a predetermined point in the race when NASCAR will throw the checkered flag and the ‘Stage' has just occurred. Points are then given to the first ‘bunch' of drivers. I don't even care who gets them or how many points they get. What I do like about the ‘Stage' is that IT MADE THE DRIVERS RACE!!! That's what racing use to be. But, why the caution? Why do they have 5 to 9 laps under caution? Their cars are OK. Two seconds ago they were doing over 190 MPH. Nobody got a flat. Nobody hit a wall. Why can't they just keep racing? There is no reason to stop for tires and a drink or a smoke as some drivers use to do. KEEP RACING!! THAT'S WHY FANS WENT TO THE TRACK IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! If a driver thinks he should make a pit stop " he will. If a fan adds up the numbers of ‘Stage' caution flags they will find that it could add up to about 10% of the race. I'll stand corrected if it's only 8%. I'll stand corrected it it's 5%. Whatever it is, it should be ZERO!!!!

Indy Cars problem seems to be multiplying. The recent problem was the Indy Car race at St. Petersburg. Two cars were battling lap after lap for the finish. The second place car was closing the gap. With less than 10 laps to go, a back-marker car hit a soft wall. That drivers engine stalled and he was stopped in the middle of the track. I wasn't at the race I don't know if there was ‘stuff' on the track. I'll bet, not much, if any. The race restarted with only 3 laps to the finish. At this point there are a few problems in front of the fan. 1, Fans knew as soon as the crash occurred that the great race to the finish line ended. 2, the fans know that this is not going to get cleaned up in a lap or two. 3, fans know that they have just had a race stolen from them. Again!!! 4, All chances are good that the end is going to be a disaster. And, it was. The third place car won the race. Disgraceful! And, Indy Car has been making a great ‘comeback' from its past problems. They blew it!!

The fastest way to fix the above problems, and possibly many other problems, STOP COUNTING LAPS WHEN THE CAUTION FLAG COMES OUT!! The race fans are getting mad about the items mentioned, as well as other various items that have occurred in the past. The number one discussion between ‘fans' is how bad racing is today. We go to the race hoping to see a ‘good' race. And, once in a while we see one. But, I remember only a few years ago that just about every race was a ‘great'. Bring back racing and let's go racing. Sitting around after a NASCAR race up at Loudon, NH I ran into a retired driver named Buddy Baker. A great guy! He and I were having a discussion about racing and cautions. I was complaining about the amount and length of cautions NASCAR was having at that particular period. His response was; 'As a driver, I'm contracted to drive a 500 mile race.' My response was; 'As a fan, aren't I entitled to 500 miles of racing?' He smiled and said; 'TOUCHE'!! We both laughed. I didn't want to argue with Buddy Baker but the grandstands had a lot of holes in them this weekend in both Arizona and St. Peterburg. Somebody's got to do something. I'll stick to my suggestion. When the caution flag is flown, the lap counter stops. LET'S GO RACING.

Note: Ed Dorning is a retired IRS Agent as well as long time race fan. He also covered local and national motor sports for the daily Greenfield (MA) Recorder. Currently Ed has a Thursday-Friday radio gig with radio station WHAI which booms out news and sports through out western MA and Berkshires.

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